The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Dwellers in A Peri-Urban District of Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health issue affecting about 296 million people worldwide. The disease is of great public health concern in Ghana as the country is within the endemic region of HBV infection. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors among dwellers in a peri-urban district of Ghana. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Sunyani West District of the Bono Region of Ghana. Respondents aged ≥18 years were purposively recruited from the four major towns in the District with health centres. A questionnaire was used to collect data from participants, and a rapid diagnostic test for the sero-presence or otherwise of hepatitis B infection was conducted. A total of 992 respondents took part in the study, with the prevalence of HBV infection using HBsAg as a marker among all the study participants being 2.9% (male 4.0% (12/298), female 2.5% (17/694)). Females aged between 20-29 years had a comparatively higher prevalence of hepatitis B infection than their corresponding males. The intake of alcohol (RR=4.23; 95% CI:2.05-8.74, p <0.000), previously diagnosed of having a sexually transmitted disease (RR= 2.43; 95% CI: 1.03-5.71, p = .04) and having multiple sexual partners (RR= 2.27; 95% CI: 1.11-4.65, p = .02) were the significant risk factors for HBV infection among the study participants. The study showed a low prevalence of HBV infection in the Sunyani West District of Ghana using HBsAg as a serum marker to diagnose the infection. Keywords: Hepatitis, prevalence, risk factors, Sunyani Wes

Predictors of the onset of neonatal sepsis at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in Ghana: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and Aim Neonatal sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection during the first 4 weeks of an infant's life. It is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study aimed to determine the predictors of the onset of sepsis at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 275 mothers and their singleton neonates diagnosed clinically with sepsis. A univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal occupational status was performed to determine the maternal and neonatal predictors of early‐onset (EOS) and late‐onset sepsis (LOS), respectively. Results Single motherhood (AOR = 1.882, 95% CI = 0.926−3.822, p = .08) and home delivery (AOR = 3.667, 95% CI = 0.584−23.026, p = .17) were predictors of EOS, with single motherhood being the predictor for LOS (AOR = 2.906, 95% CI = 0.715−11.805, p = .14) in a univariate analysis. When maternal occupation was adjusted for in a multivariate analysis, single mother (AOR = 2.167, 95% CI = 1.010−4.648, p = .04) was the main predictor of EOS, with low neonatal birth weight being the main predictor of LOS (AOR = 0.193, 95% CI = 0.038−0.971, p = .04). Conclusion Maternal marital status is a significant predictor of both EOS and LOS, with predictors of EOS being lower gestational age and low birth weight, while for LOS, low birth weight is the main predictor. Findings from this study can serve as a commencement point for developing predictive models for the onset of sepsis in neonates in the study facility